Actuator

ABSTRACT

An actuator may include a movable body; a support body; a connecting body disposed in contact with both the movable body and the support body in a position in which the movable body and the support body face each other; and a magnetic driving circuit including a coil in the support body and a permanent magnet in the movable body. The magnetic driving circuit may cause the movable body to vibrate. The support body may include a coil holder that holds the coil, a case that covers a circumference of the movable body and the coil holder, and a power supply board held by the coil holder in a position exposed from the case and to which a coil wire forming the coil is connected.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 toJapanese Application No. 2018-068098 filed Mar. 30, 2018, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

At least an embodiment of the present invention relates to an actuatorthat vibrates a movable body.

As a device that provides information by vibration, an actuatorincluding a movable body having a permanent magnet and a support bodyhaving a coil disposed to face the permanent magnet is proposed. Thesupport body includes a coil holder that holds a coil, a case thatcovers the movable body and the coil holder, and a power supply body towhich a coil wire forming the coil is connected (see Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2016-127789). In the actuatordescribed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2016-127789, the power supply board is fixed to the case so as toprotrude from the case.

When the actuator described in Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016-127789 is built in a device like a remotecontroller or a game controller, there is a possibility that such adevice is dropped. Therefore, high drop impact resistance is required tothe device. In the actuator described in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2016-127789, the power supply board is fixedto the case, and an impact on dropping propagates to the power supplyboard via the case. When the power supply board is moved in a directionaway from a coil, a coil wire is pulled and is easily cut near aposition in which the coil wire is soldered to the power supply board.

In view of the above problem, at least an embodiment of the presentinvention provides an actuator capable of inhibiting cutting of a coilwire connected to a power supply board and improving drop impactresistance.

SUMMARY

An actuator according to at least an embodiment of the present inventionincludes: a movable body; a support body; a connecting body having atleast one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and is disposed to be incontact with both the movable body and the support body in a position inwhich the movable body and the support body face each other; and amagnetic driving circuit including a coil provided in the support bodyand a permanent magnet provided in the movable body so as to face thecoil in the first direction, the magnetic driving circuit causing themovable body to vibrate with respect to the support body in a seconddirection which intersects with the first direction, wherein the supportbody includes a coil holder that holds the coil, a case that covers acircumference of the movable body and the coil holder, and a powersupply board held by the coil holder in a position exposed from the caseand to which a coil wire forming the coil is connected.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, since the powersupply board is held by the coil holder covered with the case, an impacton dropping hardly propagates to the power supply board through thecase. Even when an impact on dropping propagates to the coil holder,since the power supply board is moved together with the coil holder, thecoil wires are hardly pulled. Therefore, cut of the coil wires due to animpact on dropping hardly occurs, so drop impact resistance can beimproved.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration maybe employed in which the power supply board is provided along a sidesurface of the coil holder. With this configuration, an impact ondropping is hardly applied to the power supply board directly, so cut ofthe coil wires due to an impact on dropping hardly occurs.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration maybe employed in which the side surface is positioned on a first side of athird direction which intersects with the first direction and the seconddirection in the coil holder. When the coil is used in a magneticdriving circuit that vibrates the movable body in the second direction,a long side (effective side) of the coil extends in the third directionand a short side (ineffective side) of the coil is positioned in thethird direction. In the coil, end portions of the coil wires are drawnout of the short side of the coil. Therefore, when the power supplyboard is disposed on a side surface of the coil holder positioned on afirst side in the third direction, a distance over which the coil wireextends from the coil to the power supply board may be short.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration maybe employed in which the coil holder includes an abutting portion thatdefines a movable range of the movable body in a direction whichintersects with the first direction in a position separated from thepower supply board. With this configuration, even when the movable bodyis moved due to an impact on dropping and the movable body hits theabutting portion of the coil holder, the impact at that time hardlypropagates to the power supply board because of the presence of theabutting portion in a position away from the power supply board.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration maybe employed in which both end portions of the power supply board arerespectively fit inside a pair of slits extending in the first directionin positions in which the slits face each other of the coil holder.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, since the powersupply board is held by the coil holder covered with the case, an impacton dropping hardly propagates to the power supply board through thecase. Even when an impact on dropping propagates to the coil holder,since the power supply board is moved together with the coil holder, thecoil wires are hardly pulled. Therefore, cut of the coil wires due to animpact on dropping hardly occurs, so drop impact resistance can beimproved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary,not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in severalFigures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an actuator to which at least anembodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along Y and Z directions of theactuator illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator illustrated inFIG. 1 disassembled into a support body and a movable body;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the support body illustratedin FIG. 4 when viewed from a second side in a first direction;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the support body illustratedin FIG. 4 when viewed from a first side in the first direction;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing structure of a power supplyboard in the actuator illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of slits that hold the power supplyboard illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a step of fixing a coil to a coilholder in a manufacturing process of the actuator illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a step of fixing the coil to the coil holderillustrated in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are explanatory diagrams of a step of fixing thepower supply board to the coil holder illustrated in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Below, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. In the following description, a direction inwhich a movable body 6 is moved linearly (second direction, vibrationdirection) is denoted by X, a first direction which intersects with thesecond direction X is denoted by Z, and a third direction whichintersects with the first direction Z and the second direction X isdenoted by Y. Further, a first side in the second direction X is denotedby X1, a second side in the second direction X is denoted by X2, a firstside in the first direction Z is denoted by Z1, a second side in thefirst direction Z is denoted by Z2, a first side in the third directionY is denoted by Y1, and a second side in the third direction Y isdenoted by Y2. Below, a case in which a first member holding the coil isa support body 2 and a second member holding a permanent magnet is themovable body 6 is mainly described.

(Entire Configuration)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an actuator 1 to which at least anembodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is across-sectional view along Y and Z directions of the actuator 1illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of theactuator 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective viewof the actuator 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 disassembled into the supportbody 2 and the movable body 6. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view ofthe support body 2 illustrated in FIG. 4 when viewed from the secondside Z2 in the first direction Z. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective viewof the support body 2 illustrated in FIG. 4 when viewed from the firstside Z1 in the first direction Z.

The actuator 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a rectangular parallelepipedshape with its longitudinal direction oriented in the third direction Y.The actuator 1 provides the user who holds the actuator 1 in the handwith information by vibration in the second direction X. Accordingly,the actuator 1 can be used as an operation member, etc. of a gamemachine, of which vibration and the like provides a user with newfeeling.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the actuator 1 includesthe support body 2 including a rectangular case 3 that defines an outershape of the actuator 1, and the movable body 6 supported to be movableinside the case 3 in the second direction X with respect to the supportbody 2. The actuator 1 outputs information when the movable body 6vibrates in the second direction X.

In the present embodiment, as will be described below with reference toFIG. 2 to FIG. 6, the support body 2 includes the case 3, the coilholder 4, the coil 5, and a power supply board 10, and the movable body6 includes permanent magnets (first permanent magnet 71 and secondpermanent magnet 72), and yokes (first yoke 81 and second yoke 82). Thecoil 5 and the permanent magnets (the first permanent magnet 71 and thesecond permanent magnet 72) form a magnetic driving circuit 1 a. Themovable body 6 is supported by the support body 2 via connecting bodies91 and 92 provided between the movable body 6 and the support body 2.The connecting bodies 91 and 92 have at least one of elasticity andviscoelasticity.

(Configuration of Movable Body 6)

As illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the movable body 6includes the first yoke 81 disposed on the first side Z1 in the firstdirection Z with respect to the coil 5 and is made of a magnetic plate,and the flat-plate shaped first permanent magnet 71 held on a surface ofthe first yoke 81 on the second side Z2 in the first direction Z so asto face the coil on the first side Z1 in the first direction Z. Further,the movable body 6 includes the second yoke 82 disposed on the secondside Z2 in the first direction Z with respect to the coil 5 and is madeof a magnetic plate, and the flat-plate shaped second permanent magnet72 held on a surface of the second yoke 82 on the first side Z1 in thefirst direction Z so as to face the coil on the second side Z2 in thefirst direction Z. In the present embodiment, the movable body 6 isformed by the first yoke 81, the first permanent magnet 71, the secondyoke 82, and the second permanent magnet 72.

The first yoke 81 includes a flat plate part 811 to which the firstpermanent magnet 71 is fixed, and a pair of connecting portions 812 bentto the second side Z2 in the first direction Z from end portions on bothsides of the flat plate part 811 in the second direction X. The secondyoke 82 includes a flat plate part 821 to which the second permanentmagnet 72 is fixed, and a pair of projecting portions 822 projecting tothe first side X1 and the second side X2 in the second direction X isformed in a center part of the flat plate part 821 in the thirddirection Y. In the present embodiment, a pair of connecting portions812 of the first yoke 81 is coupled to the pair of projecting portions822 by welding or the like.

Each of the first permanent magnet 71 and the second permanent magnet 72is magnetized to have different polarities on the first side X1 and thesecond side X2 in the first direction.

(Configuration of Support Body 2)

As illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the support body 2, thecase 3 includes a first case member 31 positioned on the first side Z1in the first direction Z and a second case member 32 positioned on thesecond side Z2 in the first direction Z to overlap the first case member31. The case 3 is formed by a pair of side plate parts 311 provided onboth sides in the second direction X of the first case member 31, and apair of side plate parts 321 provided on both sides in the seconddirection X of the second case members 32. The pair of side plate parts321 is disposed over the pair of side plate parts 311. Between the firstcase member 31 and the second case member 32, the coil holder 4, thecoil 5 and the movable body 6 illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 areaccommodated. In the present embodiment, both ends of the case 3 in thethird direction Y are open.

In the pair of side plate parts 311 of the first case member 31 and thepair of side plate parts 321 of the second case member 32, cutouts 311a, 311 b, 321 a, and 321 b are formed at both end portions in the thirddirection Y. Engagement holes 321 d are formed in positions separated inthe third direction Y in the side plate part 321.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the coil 5 is an air-core coil having anannular planar shape wound in an oval shape, and is held by the coilholder 4. The coil 5 includes two long side portions 51 extending in thethird direction Y in parallel in the second direction X, and twoarc-shaped short side portions 52 connecting both ends of the two longside portions 51 in the third direction Y. The first permanent magnet 71faces the long side portions 51 of the thus-configured coil 5 on thefirst side Z1 in the first direction Z, and the second permanent magnet72 faces the long side portions 51 on the second side Z2 in the firstdirection Z.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the coil holder 4 is provided witha plate part 41 in which a coil placement hole 410 is formed through inthe first direction Z. The coil placement hole 410 is an ovalthrough-hole in which the coil 5 is placed.

At an end portion 411 of the plate part 41 on the first side Y1 in thethird direction Y, a plurality of recessed parts 411 b extending in thesecond direction X is formed on a surface on the second side Z2 in thefirst direction Z, and a plurality of recessed parts (not illustrated)similar to the recessed part 411 b is also formed on the surface on thefirst side Z1 in first direction Z.

At the end portion 411, a side plate part 413 protrudes to the firstside Z1 in the first direction Z from an edge on the first side Y1 inthe third direction Y, and side plate parts 414 and 415 protrude to thefirst side Z1 and the second side Z2 in the first direction Z from anedge on the first side X1 in the second direction X and an edge on thesecond side X2 in the second direction X, respectively. On innersurfaces 414 s and 415 s of the side plate parts 414 and 415, firstholding portions 414 a and 415 a, which are groove-shaped recessed partsextending in the first direction Z, are formed on the first side Z1 inthe first direction Z with respect to the plate part 41. Further, on theinner surfaces 414 s and 415 s of the side plate parts 414 and 415,second holding portions 414 b and 415 b, which are groove-shapedrecessed parts extending in the first direction Z, are formed on thesecond side Z2 in the first direction Z with respect to the plate part41.

At the end portion 412 of the plate part 41 on the second side Y2 in thethird direction Y, a plurality of recessed parts 412 b extending in thesecond direction X is formed on a surface on the second side Z2 in thefirst direction Z, and a plurality of recessed parts 412 a similar tothe recessed parts 412 b is also formed on a surface on the first sideZ1 in the first direction Z.

At the end portion 412, side plate parts 417, 418, and 419 protrude tothe first side Z1 and the second side Z2 in the first direction Z froman edge on the second side Y2 in the third direction Y, an edge on thefirst side X1 in the second direction X, and an edge on the second sideX2 in the second direction X. On inner surfaces 418 s and 419 s of theside plate parts 418 and 419, first holding portions 418 a and 419 a,which are groove-shaped recessed parts extending in the first directionZ, are formed on the first side Z1 in the first direction Z with respectto the plate part 41. Further, on the inner surfaces 418 s and 419 s ofthe side plate parts 418 and 419, second holding portions 418 b and 419b, which are groove-shaped recessed parts extending in the firstdirection Z, are formed on the second side Z2 in the first direction Zwith respect to the plate part 41.

A protruding portion 414 e with which the cutouts 311 a formed in thepair of side plate parts 311 of the first case member 31 and the cutouts321 a formed in the pair of side plate parts 321 of the second casemember 32 come into contact is formed at an end portion on the firstside Y1 in the third direction Y on an outer surface of the side platepart 414. A protruding portion 415 e similar to the protruding portion414 e is formed also on an outer surface of the side plate part 415. Aprotruding portion 418 e with which the cutouts 311 b formed in the pairof side plate parts 311 of the first case member 31 and the cutouts 321b formed in the pair of side plate parts 321 of the second case member32 come into contact is formed at an end portion on the second side Y2in the third direction Y on an outer surface of the side plate part 418.A protruding portion (not illustrated) similar to the protruding portion418 e is formed also on an outer surface of the side plate part 419.

Engagement protruding portions 414 d and 418 d for engaging theengagement holes 321 d formed in each of the pair of side plate parts321 of the second case member 32 are formed on the outer surface of theside plate part 414 and the outer surface of the side plate part 418.Engagement protruding portions (not illustrated) similar to theengagement protruding portions 414 d and 418 d are formed on the outersurface of the side plate part 415 and the outer surface of the sideplate part 419.

(Configuration of First Plate 47 and Second Plate 48)

The thus-configured support body 2 includes a first plate 47 thatoverlaps the coil placement hole 410 and the plate part 41 from thefirst side Z1 in the first direction Z. The coil 5 is fixed to the firstplate 47 and the plate part 41 by an adhesive layer 9 made at least ofan adhesive poured into the air-core portion 50 of the coil 5.Therefore, the coil 5 faces the first permanent magnet 71 in the firstdirection Z via the first plate 47. The first plate 47 is fixed to theplate part 41 by the adhesive layer 9. At this time, the recessed part412 a and the like formed in the plate part 41 are reservoirs of theadhesive layer 9.

Further, the support body 2 includes a second plate 48 that overlaps thecoil placement hole 410 and the plate part 41 from the second side Z2 inthe first direction Z. The coil 5 is fixed to the second plate 48 by theadhesive layer 9 made at least of an adhesive with which the air-coreportion 50 of the coil 5 is filled. Therefore, the coil 5 faces thesecond permanent magnet 72 in the first direction Z via the second plate48. The second plate 48 is fixed to the plate part 41 by the adhesivelayer 9. At that time, the recessed parts 411 b and 412 b, etc. formedin the plate part 41 are reservoirs of the adhesive layer 9.

In the present embodiment, the first plate 47 is made of a non-magneticmaterial and the second plate 48 is made of a non-magnetic material. Inthe present embodiment, the first plate 47 is made of a metal plate andthe second plate 48 is made of a metal plate. More specifically, thefirst plate 47 is made of a non-magnetic stainless-steel plate and thesecond plate 48 is made of a non-magnetic stainless-steel plate.

The first plate 47 includes claw-shaped protruding portions 472 thatprotrude obliquely from the first side Z1 in the first direction Z fromboth sides in the second direction X. The protruding portions 472 comeinto elastic contact with the inside of the first holding portions 414a, 415 a, 418 a, and 419 a formed as groove-shaped recessed parts in theside plate parts 414, 415, 418, and 419. The protruding portions 472 areheld by the coil holder 4. The second plate 48 includes claw-shapedprotruding portions 482 that protrude obliquely from the second side Z2in the first direction Z from both sides in the second direction X. Theprotruding portions 482 come into elastic contact with the inside of thesecond holding portions 414 b, 415 b, 418 b, and 419 b formed asgroove-shaped recessed parts in the side plate parts 414, 415, 418, and419. The protruding portions 482 are held by the coil holder 4. Thefirst plate 47 includes bent portions 473 bent to the first side Z1 inthe first direction Z at both ends in the third direction Y, and bentportions 474 bent to the second side Z2 in the first direction Z at bothends in the second direction X. The second plate 48 includes bentportions 483 bent to the second side Z2 in the first direction Z at bothends in the third direction Y, and bent portions 484 bent to the firstside Z1 in the first direction Z at both ends in the second direction X.With this configuration, strength of the first plate 47 and the secondplate 48 against bending is increased by the bent portions 473, 474,483, and 484.

As described above, in the actuator 1 of the present embodiment, thecoil 5 is disposed inside the coil placement hole 410 formed through theplate part 41 of the coil holder 4 in the first direction Z, and thefirst plate 47 is disposed so as to overlap the coil placement hole 410and the plate part 41 from the first side Z1 in the first direction Z.Therefore, when the air-core portion 50 of the coil 5 is filled with anadhesive, the adhesive flows between the coil 5 and the coil holder 4,between the coil 5 and the first plate 47, and between the first plate47 and the coil holder 4. When the adhesive is cured, the coil 5, thefirst plate 47, and the coil holder 4 are fixed by the adhesive layer 9.Therefore, unlike when the adhesive is poured into a gap between anouter circumferential surface of the coil 5 and an inner circumferentialsurface of the coil placement hole 410, the coil 5 placed in the coilplacement hole 410 of the coil holder 4 can be properly made to adhereto the coil holder 4. The first plate 47 is interposed between the firstpermanent magnet 71 and the coil 5. Therefore, even when the movablebody 6 is moved to the first side Z1 in the first direction Z, the firstpermanent magnet 71 and the coil 5 do not come into direct contact witheach other, so the coil 5 is not easily damaged.

Further, when the air-core portion 50 of the coil 5 is filled with theadhesive and then the second plate 48 is placed thereon, the adhesivesmoothly flows between the coil 5 and the coil holder 4, between thecoil 5 and the first plate 47, and between the first plate 47 and thecoil holder 4, and, at the same time, flows between the coil 5 and thesecond plate 48, and between the second plate 48 and the coil holder 4.Therefore, when the adhesive is cured, the coil 5, the first plate 47,the second plate 48, and the coil holder 4 are fixed by the adhesivelayer 9. In this state, the second plate 48 is interposed between thesecond permanent magnet 72 and the coil 5. Therefore, even when themovable body 6 is moved to the second side Z2 in the first direction Z,the second permanent magnet 72 and the coil 5 do not come into directcontact with each other, so the coil 5 is not easily damaged.

Since the first plate 47 is made of a non-magnetic material and thesecond plate 48 is made of a non-magnetic material, the magnetic fluxfrom the first permanent magnet 71 and the magnetic flux from the secondpermanent magnet 72 interlink with the coil 5 without being affected bythe first plate 47 and the second plate 48. Further, since the firstplate 47 is made of a metal plate and the second plate 48 is made of ametal plate, heat generated by the coil 5 can be radiated efficientlythrough the first plate 47 and the second plate 48. Further, since thefirst plate 47 is made of a stainless-steel plate and the second plate48 is made of a stainless-steel plate, the first plate 47 and the secondplate 48 have sufficient strength, even though these plates are thin.

Further, the coil holder 4 includes the first holding portions 414 a,415 a, 418 a, and 419 a that engage the claw-shaped first protrudingportions 472 of the first plate 47 and hold the first plate 47, and thesecond holding portions 414 b, 415 b, 418 b, and 419 b that engage theclaw-shaped second protruding portions 482 of the second plate 48 andhold the second plate 48. Therefore, it is not necessary to support thefirst plate 47 and the second plate 48 with a jig until the adhesive iscured.

(Configuration of Connecting Bodies 91 and 92)

As illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the movable body 6is supported to be movable in the second direction X and the thirddirection Y by the connecting bodies 91 and 92 provided between themovable body 6 and the support body 2.

In the present embodiment, the connecting bodies 91 are provided inportions in which the first yoke 81 and the first plate 47 face eachother in the first direction Z. The connecting bodies 92 are provided inportions in which the second yoke 82 and the second plate 48 face eachother in the first direction Z. More specifically, the connecting bodies91 are provided in two portions separated in the third direction Y (onthe side of the short side portions 52 of the coil 5) in each of whichthe first yoke 81 and the first plate 47 face each other in the firstdirection Z. The connecting bodies 92 are provided in two portionsseparated in the third direction Y (on the side of the short sideportions 52 of the coil 5) in each of which the second yoke 82 and thesecond plate 48 face each other in the first direction Z. Therefore, themovable body 6 can be supported to be movable in the second direction Xwithout using a plate spring or the like.

In the present embodiment, the connecting bodies 91 and 92 areviscoelastic members. More specifically, the connecting bodies 91 and 92(viscoelastic members) are gel members made of silicone gel or the like.In the present embodiment, the connecting bodies 91 and 92 are made ofsilicone gel having penetration of 90° to 110°. As defined in JIS K 2207and JIS K 2220, the penetration is measured as the penetration depth ofa ¼ scale cone needle, which weighs 9.38 g, penetrating per 5 seconds at25° C., is expressed in 1/10 mm: the smaller the value is, the harderthe silicone is. Fixing of the connecting bodies 91 and 92 to the firstyoke 81 and to the second yoke 82 and fixing of the connecting bodies 91and 92 to the coil holder 4 are performed by using an adhesive propertyof adhesives or a silicone gel.

As described above, in the actuator 1 of the present embodiment, sincethe connecting bodies 91 and 92 are provided between the movable body 6and the support body 2, resonance of the movable body 6 can besuppressed. The connecting bodies 91 are provided between the firstplate 47 and the first yoke 81, and the connecting bodies 92 areprovided between the second plate 48 and the second yoke 82. Thus, thecase 3 is not used to provide the connecting bodies 91 and 92.Therefore, the connecting bodies 91 and 92 can be provided between thesupport body 2 and the movable body 6 without using the case 3.Therefore, since the connecting bodies 91 and 92 can be provided in themiddle of assembly in which the case 3 is not yet provided, vibrationcharacteristics including damper characteristics can be measured duringmanufacturing. Since the case 3 is not used for providing the connectingbodies 91 and 92, the connecting bodies 91 and 92 can be provided inactuators not including the case 3.

The connecting bodies 91 and 92 are provided in positions facing thesupport body 2 and the movable body 6 in the first direction Z whichintersects with the second direction X (vibration direction). Therefore,when the movable body 6 vibrates in the second direction X, the movablebody 6 deforms in the shear direction to prevent resonance. Therefore,even when the movable body 6 vibrates in the second direction X, achange in elastic modulus of the connecting bodies 91 and 92 is small,so the resonance of the movable body 6 can be effectively suppressed.

The connecting bodies (connecting bodies 91 and 92) are viscoelasticmembers (plate-like gel members), and have linear or non-linearstretching characteristics, depending on the stretching direction. Forexample, when pressed in the thickness direction (axial direction) forcompressive deformation, the connecting bodies 91 and 92 demonstrate thestretching characteristics in which the non-linear component is greaterthan the linear component (spring coefficient). On the contrary, whenstretched by being pulled in the thickness direction (axial direction),the connecting bodies 91 and 92 demonstrate the stretchingcharacteristics in which the linear component (spring coefficient) isgreater than the non-linear component (spring coefficient). Further,when deformed in the direction (shear direction) which intersects withthe thickness direction (axial direction), deformation of the connectingbodies 91 and 92 is caused when stretched by being pulled whicheverdirection they are moved. Therefore, the connecting bodies 91 and 92demonstrate the deformation characteristics in which the linearcomponent (spring coefficient) is greater than the non-linear component(spring coefficient). In the present embodiment, when the movable body 6vibrates in the second direction X, the connecting bodies 91 and 92 aredeformed in the shear direction. Therefore, in the connecting bodies 91and 92, when the movable body 6 vibrates in the second direction X, thespring force in the movement direction becomes constant. Thus, by usingspring elements in the shear direction of the connecting bodies 91 and92, reproducibility of vibration acceleration with respect to inputsignals can be improved, so vibrations with subtle nuances can beimplemented.

Both surfaces of the connecting bodies 91 and 92 in the first directionZ are connected to the movable body 6 and the support body 2 by adhesionor the like, respectively. Therefore, since the connecting bodies 91 and92 reliably follow the movement of the movable body 6, resonance of themovable body 6 can be effectively inhibited.

Further, the connecting bodies 91 and 92 are compressed in the firstdirection Z between the support body 2 and the movable body 6.Therefore, since the connecting bodies 91 and 92 reliably follow themovement of the movable body 6, resonance of the movable body 6 can beeffectively inhibited.

(Configuration of Abutting Portion)

In the present embodiment, an abutting portion is provided that definesa movable range of the movable body 6 when the movable body 6 is movedin the second direction X and the third direction Y due to an impactfrom the outside. More specifically, in the movable body 6, the flatplate parts 811 and 821 of the first yoke 81 and the second yoke 82 facethe inner surfaces 414 s, 415 s, 418 s, and 419 s of the side plateparts 414, 415, 418, and 419 in the second direction X. The innersurfaces 414 s, 415 s, 418 s and 419 s of the side plate parts 414, 415,418, and 419 are a first abutting portion that comes into contacts withthe movable body 6 and defines a movable range of the movable body 6when the movable body 6 is moved in the second direction X due toexternal impact.

In the movable body 6, the pair of connecting portions 812 of the firstyoke 81 and the pair of projecting portions 822 of the second yoke 82are positioned between the side plate part 414 and the side plate part418 which are separated in the third direction Yin the coil holder 4,and between the side plate part 415 and the side plate part 419 whichare separated in the third direction Y. Accordingly, the end portions414 g and 418 g facing each other in the side plate part 414 and theside plate part 418 and the end portions 415 g and 419 g facing eachother in the side plate part 415 and the side plate part 419 are asecond abutting portion that comes into contact with the movable body 6and defines a movable range of the movable body 6 when moved in thethird direction Y.

(Configuration of Power Supply Board 10)

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing structure of the powersupply board 10 in the actuator 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is anexplanatory diagram of slits 414 t and 415 t that hold the power supplyboard 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, in the actuator 1, the power supplyboard 10 is held in a position separated from the abutting portionsdescribed above (inner surfaces 414 s, 415 s, 418 s, and 419 s of theside plate parts 414, 415, 418, and 419 and the end portions 414 g, 415g, 418 g, and 419 g) in the coil holder 4. Coil wires 56 and 57 formingthe coil 5 are connected to the power supply board 10 by soldering, etc.In the present embodiment, the power supply board 10 is a rigid board.

In the present embodiment, in the coil holder 4, the power supply board10 is held in an opening portion surrounded by the side plate parts 413,414, and 415 on the first side in the third direction Y. In the presentembodiment, the coil wires 56 and 57 are drawn out of the coil 5 on thefirst side Y1 in the third direction Y through two guide grooves 411 cformed on a surface of the end portion 411 of the plate part 41 of thecoil holder 4 on the second side Z2 in the first direction Z, extendsfrom the first side Z1 to the second side Z2 in the first direction Z,and is connected to the power supply board 10.

In the present embodiment, in the coil holder 4, a pair of slits 414 tand 415 t extending to the first side Z1 in the first direction Z isformed in end portions 414 h and 415 h of the side plate parts 414 and415 facing each other in the second direction X. Both end portions 10 aand 10 b of the power supply board 10 in the second direction X are fitinside the slits 414 t and 415 t, respectively. Therefore, the powersupply board 10 is held by the coil holder 4 along the end surface 40(side plate parts 413, 414, and 415) of the coil holder 4 at theposition exposed from the case 3. In the present embodiment, after theend portions 10 a and 10 b of the power supply board 10 are fit into theslits 414 t and 415 t, the coil holder 4 and the power supply board 10are fixed to each other with an adhesive to suppress vibration of thepower supply board 10.

In the present embodiment, the power supply board 10 includes a firstplate part 11 in which two lands 16 a and 16 b, to which the coil wires56 and 57 are connected by soldering, are formed in positions separatedin the second direction X, and two second plate parts 12 and 13protruding from both ends of the first plate part 11 in the seconddirection X to the first side Z1 in the first direction Z. Two lands 17a and 17 b are formed on both sides of the lands 16 a and 16 b in thefirst plate part 11, and a wiring member (not illustrated) from theoutside is connected to the lands 17 a and 17 b.

At the end portion 411 of the coil holder 4, contact portions 411 r areformed in positions passing through end portions of the guide grooves411 c on the first side Y1 in the third direction Y. The contactportions 411 r receive an edge of the first plate part 11 of the powersupply board 10 on the first side Z1 in the first direction Z. Both theend portions 10 a and 10 b of the power supply board 10 are fit into theslits 414 t and 415 t to a depth position in which the first plate part11 of the power supply board 10 is in contact with the contact portion411 r. At an end of the first plate part 11 on the second side Z2 in thefirst direction Z, two recessed parts 11 a and 11 b that hold distalends of the coil wires 56 and 57 when the coil wires 56 and 57 are to beconnected to the power supply board 10 are formed.

Here, the widths of the slits 414 t and 415 t are decreased from themiddle in the depth direction (first direction Z). Therefore, when theboth end portions 10 a and 10 b are inserted in the slits 414 t and 415t, the power supply board 10 is being held by the slits 414 t and 415 teven in the middle position until the first plate part 11 comes intocontact with the contact portion 411 r.

Here, the coil wires 56 and 57 are appropriately slackened from the coil5 to the lands 16 a and 16 b (connecting position) of the power supplyboard 10. However, when the power supply board 10 is moved to a depthposition from the contact portion 411 r away to the second side Z2 inthe first direction Z while the power supply board 10 being fit in theslits 414 t and 415 t, the coil wires 56 and 57 are made to tense.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the power supplyboard 10 is held by the coil holder 4 covered with the case 3, an impacton dropping hardly propagates to the power supply board 10 through thecase 3. Even when the impact on dropping propagates to the coil holder4, since the power supply board 10 is moved together with the coilholder 4, the coil wires 56 and 57 are hardly pulled. Therefore, cut ofthe coil wires 56 and 57 by an impact on dropping hardly occurs, so dropimpact resistance can be improved.

The power supply board 10 is provided along the side surface of the coilholder 4. Therefore, an impact on dropping is hardly applied to thepower supply board 10 directly, so cut of the coil wires 56 and 57 dueto an impact on dropping hardly occurs.

Further, in the coil holder 4, the power supply board 10 is provided ata position separated from the abutting portion with respect to themovable body 6 (inner surfaces 414 s, 415 s, 418 s, and 419 s of theside plate parts 414, 415, 418, and 419 (the first abutting portion),and end portions 414 g, 415 g, 418 g, and 419 g of the side plate parts414, 415, 418, and 419 (the second abutting portion)). Therefore, evenwhen the movable body 6 is moved due to an impact on dropping and themovable body 6 hits the abutting portion of the coil holder 4, theimpact at that time hardly propagates to the power supply board 10.Thus, cut of the coil wires 56 and 57 due to an impact on droppinghardly occurs.

Further, the side surface of the coil holder 4 to which the power supplyboard 10 is fixed is located on the first side Y1 in the third directionY. Here, the short side portion 52 (ineffective side) of the coil 5 ispositioned in the third direction Y. In the coil 5, the coil wires 56and 57 are drawn out of the short side portion 52 of the coil 5.Accordingly, if the power supply board 10 is disposed on the sidesurface of the coil holder 4 located on the first side Y1 in the thirddirection Y, a distance to which the coil wires 56 and 57 extend fromthe coil 5 to the power supply board 10 can be short.

The coil wires 56 and 57 extend from the first side Z1 to the secondside Z2 in the first direction Z and are connected to the power supplyboard 10. Both end portions 10 a and 10 b of the power supply board 10are fit, from the second side Z2 in the first direction Z, inside of thepair of slits 414 t and 415 t extending to the first side Z1 in thefirst direction Z in positions in which the slits 414 t and 415 t faceeach other of the coil holder 4. The power supply board 10 is fit intothe slits 414 t and 415 t to a depth to come into contact with thecontact portion 411 r provided in the coil holder 4 from the second sideZ2 in the first direction Z, and is positioned on the furthermost partof the first side Z1 in the first direction Z. Therefore, it is possibleto easily provide appropriate slackness to the coil wires 56 and 57extending from the first side Z1 to the second side Z2 in the firstdirection Z. Accordingly, when a temperature change occurs, even if thecoil wires 56 and 57 are pulled due to a difference in thermal expansioncoefficient between the coil wires 56 and 57 and peripheral members,etc., the coil wires 56 and 57 are hardly cut. Therefore, an operatingtemperature range of the actuator 1 can be expanded.

(Operation)

In the actuator 1 of the present embodiment, when power is supplied fromoutside (higher-level device) to the coil 5 via the power supply board10, the magnetic driving circuit 1 a including the coil 5, the firstpermanent magnet 71, and the second permanent magnet 72 makes themovable body 6 reciprocate in the second direction X. Therefore, theuser who holds the actuator 1 in the hand can obtain information byvibration from the actuator 1. At that time, a frequency of a signalwaveform applied to the coil 5 is changed depending on the informationto be transmitted. Further, the polarity of the signal waveform appliedto the coil 5 is reversed. At that time, a change in voltage between aperiod in which the polarity of the driving signal is negative and aperiod in which the polarity of the driving signal is positive is variedin speed. Thus, a difference arises between acceleration when themovable body 6 is moved to the first side X1 in the second direction Xand acceleration when the movable body 6 is moved to the second side X2in the second direction X. Therefore, it is possible to provide the userwith an illusion that the actuator 1 is moved to the first side X1 orthe second side X2 in the second direction X.

(Method for Manufacturing Actuator 1)

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a step of fixing the coil 5 to thecoil holder 4 in a manufacturing process of the actuator 1 illustratedin FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a plan view of a step of fixing the coil 5 to thecoil holder 4 illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B areexplanatory diagrams of a step of fixing the power supply board 10 tothe coil holder 4 illustrated in FIG. 5.

In manufacturing the actuator 1, first, as illustrated in FIG. 9 andFIG. 10, the first plate 47 is disposed so as to overlap the coilplacement hole 410 and the plate part 41 of the coil holder 4 from thefirst side Z1 in the first direction Z. At that time, the firstprotruding portion 472 is inserted to engage the first holding portions414 a, 415 a, 418 a, and 419 a of the side plate parts 414, 415, 418,and 419. Therefore, the first plate 47 is held by the coil holder 4while closing the coil placement hole 410 from the first side Z1 in thefirst direction Z. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the coil5 is placed in the coil placement hole 410.

In this state, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the power supply board 10 isfixed to the coil 5. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.11A, the end portions 10 a and 10 b of the power supply board 10 are fitinto the slits 414 t and 415 t of the coil holder 4 from the second sideZ2 in the first direction Z. At that time, insertion of the power supplyboard 10 is stopped in a position halfway before the power supply board10 comes into contact with the contact portion 411 r of the coil holder4 from the second side Z2 in the first direction Z. Therefore, the powersupply board 10 is separated apart from the contact portion 411 r.

In this state, the coil wires 56 and 57 are drawn from the first side Z1in the first direction Z to the second side Z2, and connected to thelands 16 a and 16 b of the power supply board 10 by soldering. At thattime, the coil wires 56 and 57 are made to pass through the recessedparts 11 a and 11 b to position the coil wires 56 and 57. Afterconnecting the coil wires 56 and 57 to the power supply board 10,excessive portions of the coil wires 56 and 57 on the distal end sideare cut and removed.

Thereafter, the power supply board 10 is pressed into the slits 414 tand 415 t to a depth at which the power supply board 10 comes intocontact with the contact portion 411 r from the second side Z2 in thefirst direction Z. Thus, appropriate slackness is provided to the coilwires 56 and 57 between the coil 5 to the lands 16 a and 16 b(connecting position) of the power supply board 10. In the presentembodiment, the power supply board 10 is pressed into the slits 414 tand 415 t to a depth at which the power supply board 10 comes intocontact with the contact portion 411 r from the second side Z2 in thefirst direction Z. Thereafter, the power supply board 10 is fixed to thecoil holder 4 with an adhesive 90.

Here, since the widths of the slits 414 t and 415 t are decreased fromthe middle in the depth direction, when the power supply board 10 isinserted to the position in which the widths of the slits 414 t and 415t are decreased, the power supply board 10 is temporarily fixed to theslits 414 t and 415 t. Therefore, when the power supply board 10 ispushed deeper into the slits 414 t and 415 t after connecting the coilwires 56 and 57 to the temporarily fixed power supply board 10, the coilwires 56 and 57 can be slackened. Further, by merely optimizing theposition of the power supply board 10 when connecting the coil wires 56and 57, it is possible to optimize the slackness to be provided to thecoil wires 56 and 57.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, after the air-core portion50 of the coil 5 is filled with the adhesive, the second plate 48 isdisposed so as to overlap the coil placement hole 410 and the plate part41 of the coil holder 4 from the second side Z2 in the first directionZ. At that time, the second protruding portions 482 are inserted toengage the second holding portions 414 b, 415 b, 418 b, and 419 b of theside plate parts 414, 415, 418, and 419. Therefore, the second plate 48is held by the coil holder 4 in a state in which the second plate 48overlaps the coil 5 from the second side Z2 in the first direction Z. Onthe first side Z1 in the first direction Z with respect to the coil 5,the adhesive 90 flows between the coil 5 and the first plate 47, andflows into a gap between the first plate 47 and the plate part 41 of thecoil holder 4. At that time, an excessive adhesive 90 flows into therecessed part 412 a or the like formed on the surface of the endportions 411 and 412 of the plate part 41 on the first side Z1 in thefirst direction Z. On the second side Z2 in the first direction Z withrespect to the coil 5, the adhesive 90 flows between the coil 5 and thesecond plate 48, and flows into a gap between the second plate 48 andthe plate part 41 of the coil holder 4. At that time, an excessiveadhesive 90 flows into the recessed parts 411 b and 412 b or the likeformed on the surface of the end portions 411 and 412 of the plate part41 on the second side Z2 in the first direction Z.

Therefore, when the adhesive 90 is cured, the coil 5 is fixed to thefirst plate 47 and the plate part 41 of the coil holder 4 by theadhesive layer 9 in which the adhesive 90 is cured. The first plate 47is fixed to the plate part 41 of the coil holder 4 by the adhesive layer9. The coil 5 is fixed to the first plate 47 by the adhesive layer 9,and the second plate 48 is fixed to the plate part 41 of the coil holder4 by the adhesive layer 9.

Next, the connecting bodies 91 are made to adhere to two positionsseparated in the third direction Y on the surface of the first plate 47on the first side Z1 in the first direction Z, and the connecting bodies92 are made to adhere to two positions separated in the third directionY on the surface of the second plate 48 on the second side Z2 in thefirst direction Z.

Next, the first yoke 81 to which the first permanent magnet 71 is fixedis disposed on the first side Z1 in the first direction Z with respectto the first plate 47, the second yoke 82 to which the second permanentmagnet 72 is fixed is disposed on the second side Z2 in the firstdirection Z with respect to the second plate 48. End portions of theconnecting portions 812 of the first yoke 81 are connected to theprojecting portions 822 of the second yoke 82 by welding or the like. Atthat time, the connecting bodies 91 are made to adhere to the first yoke81, and the connecting bodies 92 are made to adhere to the second yoke82.

Next, after placing the first case member 31 so as to cover the coilholder 4 and the movable body 6 from the first side Z1 in the firstdirection Z, the second case member 32 is placed so as to cover the coilholder 4 and the movable body 6 from the second side Z2 in the firstdirection Z, and the engagement holes 321 d formed in the side platepart 321 of the second case member 32 are made to engage the engagementprotruding portions 414 d, 418 d, etc. of the coil holder 4. Thereafter,the first case member 31 and the second case member 32 are coupled bywelding or the like to form the case 3.

Other Embodiments

In the embodiment described above, the permanent magnets (firstpermanent magnet 71 and second permanent magnet 72) are provided on bothsides of the coil 5 in the first direction Z. However, at least anembodiment of the present invention is applicable also to an actuator inwhich a permanent magnet is disposed on one of the first and secondsides in the first direction Z of the coils 5.

In the embodiment described above, the coil holder 4 and the coil 5 areprovided in the support body 2, and the permanent magnets (the firstpermanent magnet 71 and the second permanent magnet 72) and the yokes(first yoke 81 and second yoke 82) are provided in the movable body 6.However, the configuration using the first plate 47 and the second plate48 and the configuration for providing slackness in the power supplyboard 10 may be applied to an actuator in which the coil holder 4 andthe coil 5 are provided in the movable body 6, and the permanent magnets(first permanent magnet 71 and second permanent magnet 72) and the yokes(first yoke 81 and second yoke 82) are provided in the support body 2.

In the embodiment described above, a gel member (viscoelastic member) isused as the connecting bodies 91 and 92, but rubber, a spring or thelike may be used alternatively. Here, viscoelasticity is the property ofmaterials that have both viscosity and elasticity. Many polymermaterials, such as gel members, plastics, and rubber, haveviscoelasticity. Accordingly, as the connecting bodies 91 and 92 havingviscoelasticity, various rubber materials, such as natural rubber, dienerubber (e.g., styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, butadienerubber, chloroprene rubber, and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber),non-diene rubber (e.g., butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber,ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, andfluororubber), and thermoplastic elastomers, and modified materialsthereof may be used.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be understood that many modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claimsare intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the truescope and spirit of the present invention.

The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than theforegoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An actuator, comprising: a movable body; asupport body; a connecting body having at least one of elasticity andviscoelasticity, and disposed in contact with both the movable body andthe support body in a position in which the movable body and the supportbody face each other; a magnetic driving circuit comprising a coilprovided in the support body and a permanent magnet provided in themovable body so as to face the coil in a first direction, the magneticdriving circuit causing the movable body to vibrate with respect to thesupport body in a second direction which intersects with the firstdirection, wherein the support body comprises a coil holder that holdsthe coil, a case that covers a circumference of the movable body and thecoil holder, and a power supply board held by the coil holder in aposition exposed from the case and to which a coil wire forming the coilis connected, and the coil holder comprises an abutting portion thatdefines a movable range of the movable body when the movable body ismoved in the second direction and a third direction which intersectswith the first direction and the second direction due to an impact froman outside.
 2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the powersupply board is provided along a side surface of the coil holder.
 3. Theactuator according to claim 2, wherein the side surface is positioned ona first side of the third direction in the coil holder.
 4. The actuatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the power supply board is a rigid board.5. The actuator according to claim 4, wherein both end portions of thepower supply board are respectively fit inside a pair of slits extendingin the first direction in positions in which the slits face each otherof the coil holder.
 6. The actuator according to claim 3, wherein thepower supply board is a rigid board.
 7. The actuator according to claim6, wherein both end portions of the power supply board are respectivelyfit inside a pair of slits extending in the first direction in positionsin which the slits face each other of the coil holder.
 8. The actuatoraccording to claim 2, wherein the power supply board is a rigid board.9. The actuator according to claim 8, wherein both end portions of thepower supply board are respectively fit inside a pair of slits extendingin the first direction in positions in which the slits face each otherof the coil holder.
 10. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein thepower supply board is a rigid board.
 11. The actuator according to claim8, wherein both end portions of the power supply board are respectivelyfit inside a pair of slits extending in the first direction in positionsin which the slits face each other of the coil holder.
 12. The actuatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the power supply board is a rigid board.13. The actuator according to claim 12, wherein both end portions of thepower supply board are respectively fit inside a pair of slits extendingin the first direction in positions in which the slits face each otherof the coil holder.
 14. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein thepower supply board is a rigid board.
 15. The actuator according to claim14, wherein both end portions of the power supply board are respectivelyfit inside a pair of slits extending in the first direction in positionsin which the slits face each other of the coil holder.